Razor-sharpening machine.



P. E. BIRD. RAZOR SHARPENING MACHINE. APPLIUATION TILED JULY 29, mos.

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P. E. BIRD. RAZOR SHARPENING MACHINE. APPLIoATIoN FILED JULY 29.1909.

Patented May 23, 19.11.

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U N ITEI) STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PETER E. BIRD, OF JENKINTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR 0F ONE-HALF TOTHOMAS B. HARPER, 0F JENKINTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA.

RAZOR-SHARPENING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 23, 1911.

Application filed July 29, 1909. Serial No. 510,277.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PETER E. BIRD, a citizen of the United States, and aresident of Jenkintown, county of Montgomery, and State of Pennsylvania,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Razor- SharpeningMachines, of which the following is a specification.

The main objects of this invention are to provide a simple durable andefiicient machine by which a razor or other cutting tool may beconveniently and quickly sharpened; to provide a machine which may beused for sharpening either a detached blade, such as is used in safetyrazors, or the blade of an ordinary razor, or other similar tool whileattached to its handle; to provide, in a sharpening machine, improvedmeans for holding a two edged blade while being sharpened; to provide animproved sharpening machine having a flat rotary sharpening surface uponwhich the cutter to be sharpened is held so that the movement of thesharpening surface at the edge of the cutter is a direction oblique tothe edge; to provide a razor sharpening machine having a rotarysharpener and improved means for rotating the sharpener; and to provideother improvements as will ap ear hereinafter.

In the accompanying" rawings, Figure 1 is a top plan view of a razorsharpener constructed in accordance with this invention; Fig. 2 asection of the same on line 22 of Fig.1; Fig. 8 a section of the same online 3--3 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 a perspective in detail of a portion of thesame, the parts thereof being separated; Fig. 5 a transverse section ofa portion of the same on line 55 of Fig. 2; Fig. 6 a fragmentary topplan view of the same showing an attachment for holding a razor handleand its attached blade in position for sharpening; Fig. 7 a perspectiveof an attachment forming a part of the device; Fig. 8 a perspective of amodified form of blade holder which may be used with this device; Fig; 9a fragmentary top plan View of a modified form of this invention; Fig.10 a fragmentary transverse section on line 10-10 of Fig. 9; Fig. 11 afragmentary top plan view of a second modification of this invention andFig. 12 a side elevation, partly in longitudinal section, of a modifiedform of this invention.

Referring to the drawings, one embodiment of this invention comprises asubstantially U-shaped yoke or support 1, having a central or baseportion 2 and substantially parallel arms 3. This yoke may be threadedupon or integral with the inner end of a handle 4:, and the yoke and itshandle form a body or frame for supporting the movable parts of thedevice.

J ournaled in the two arms of the yoke 1 is a spindle 5, both ends ofwhich are reduced in diameter forming outwardly facing annular shoulders7, one reduced end being journaled in one arm of the yoke with itsshoulder 7 against the inner surface of the arm, and the other end ofthe spindle being journaled in the other arm of the yoke and having itsshoulder 7 slightly outside of the outer surface of the arm, and itsreduced portion projecting outwardly from the arm and supporting asharpening disk 8 of metal or other suitable material. The disk is heldagainst the adjacent shoulder 7 of the spindle and in fixed positionwith respect to the spindle by means of a washer 9 which is clampedagainst the outer surface of the disk, by means of a headed screw whichextends through the washer and is threaded into the end of the spindle5. Rotary movement between the disk and the spindle may further beprevented by a key 11 between the disk and the spindle. Upon the outersurface of the disk and extending from the periphery of the diskinwardly is secured an annular layer 12 of leather, or of leather coatedwith abrasive material, or of fabric coated with abrasive material, orof any other material or materials suitable for hon-' ing or sharpeninga razor.

For imparting to the sharpening disk 8 an alternating or reciprocatoryrotary movement a pulley 15 is removably fixed upon the spindle 5between and in contact. with the sides of the yoke 1 by means of a screw16 which is threaded through the pulley and engages in a recess 17provided therefor in the spindle, the screw holding the pulley not onlyagainst rotation with respect to the spindle, but also against movementlongitudinally thereof, thus the'spindle is held against longitudinalmovement in its bearings by means of the pulley. The pulley 15 ispreferably provided about its periphery with radial projections or teeth18, and is preferably rotated by means of a band 19 of leather, or othersuitable material having spaced perforations 20 adapted to engage theseteeth, the band being held in contact with the pulley by means of twoidlers 21, mounted between the sides of the yoke and upon opposite endsof the pulley. One end of the band 19 is provided with a ring 22,whereby the band may be attached to a fixed hook or other suit-ablesupport when it is desired to operate the machine.

For holding a cutter blade in position to be sharpened and for reversingthe position of the blade to sharpen both sides of the blade, the arm 3of the yoke 1 adjacent the sharpening disk is provided with oppositelyextending resilient yielding brackets 26 and 27, which maybe integralwith the yoke or detachably connected thereto, and which may be made ofmetal or other suitable resilient material. These brackets are arrangedradially of the sharpening disk, and one, 26, of these brackets isturned outwardly adjacent its outer end in a direction substantiallyperpendicular to the plane of the disk, terminating a short distance outside of the disk and is provided in this outwardly turned position withan aperture to form a bearing 28 for one end of the shaft 29. The otherbracket 27 is turned outwardly around the periphery of the sharpeningdisk and then radially inwardly parallel to the disk, terminating in anoutwardly projecting end between the periphery and the center of thedisk and is provided in this end with an aperture forming a bearing 30for theother end of the shaft 29. The outer end of the shaft 29 isprovided with a collar 35 upon the inside and in contact with the innersurface of the adjacent bearing 26 to prevent movement of the shaftlongitudinally outwardly.

For imparting to the shaft 29 an intermittent rotary movement inopposite directions, the shaft is provided, adjacent its inner end, witha collar 36, integral orrigid therewith, and between the collar and thehearing at the adjacent end of the shaft is mounted a friction roller 37which is rotatable with respect to the shaft, but which is held againstfree movement upon the shaft by means of a friction washer 38 of leatheror other suitable material surrounding the shaft and between the rollerand the rigid collar 36, and a similar washer 39 surrounding the shaftupon the'opposite side of the roller. These leather washers 38 and 39are 'adjustably clamped against the roller by interposed between the nutand the adjacent leather washers, the metal washer being held againstrotation with respect to the shaft by means of a key 43, preferablyintegral with the washer engaging in a key-way eX- tendinglongitudinally of the shaft. In this construction it is evident that thenut may be tightened against the metal washer -to press the leatherwashers against the opposite sides of the friction roller to retard therotary movement of the roller with respect to its shaft, the roller,however, being rotatable with respect to the shaft when sufiicient forceis applied. By means of the resilient brackets 26 and 27 the roller isyieldingly pressed against and is adapted to be rotated by an annularfriction disk 45 of leather or other suitable material rigid andconcentric with the face of the sharpening disk 8, and bounded by theannular layer 12 of sharpening material.

Rigidly connected to the rotary shaft 29 of the blade holder is a springclip i 50 adapted to hold a blade directly in position to be sharpenedor to receive a clasp 51 in which the blade may be removably mounted.The clasp 51 may be constructed in any suit able manner, for holding atwo edged blade 52, such as is ordinarily used in safetyrazors, theclasp is preferably in the form of a yoke made of resilient material,such as brass or spring steel, and having bifurcated yielding arms 53,each of which is provided adjacent its end with an oblong substantiallyoval aperture 54 formed between the two halves of the arm. These oblongapertures are adapted to form yielding bearings for two clamping plates55 between which is removably secured the blade 52, the blade beingprovided as usual with two axially arranged apertures and one of theplates 55 being provided with corresponding apertures 56, while theother plate 55 is provided with studs 56 projecting inwardly therefromand adapted to fit through the apertures of the blade and of the otherplate. Each clamping plate 55 is provided on each end with a projectinglug 57, which is substantially semi-oval in crosssection and is adaptedto form, with the corresponding lug, upon the other plate, asubstantially transversely oval trunnion adapted to fit snugly in one ofthe oval apertures 54 of the clasp 51. The length of the main portion ofeach clamping plate 55 is substantially the same as the distance betweenthe arms 53 of the clasp which is made substantially equal to the lengthof the usual detachable blade of a safety razor and the width of eachplate is lightly less than the width of the blade so that the clampingplates holding the blade between them with its sharp edges exposed maybe yieldingly supported in the yoke of clasp 51, the two portions ofeach arm of the clasp being sprung apart to permit the entrance of thetrunnions formed by the clamping plates into the oval apertures 54. Whenthe blade 52 is thus positioned between the clamping plates and in theclasp 51, the blade will be held yieldingly against rotation withrespect to the clasp, and substantially in the plane of the clasp,because of the oval or oblong shape of the trunnions and their bearingsand by applying sufficient turning pressure to the clamping plates thedivided portions of each arm will be sprung apart and the clamping plateand the blade may be rotated through half of a turn when the arms Wlllagain tend to hold the blade yieldingly in a fixed position. Theintermediate portion 58, of the clasp 51, is substantially in the formof a dove-tail in cross section, and is adapted to slide longitudinallyinto engagement with the spring clip 50 which is rigid with the rotaryshaft 29 of the holder and is held when in position, in the spring clip,substantially rigid with respect to the shaft.

When it is desired to hold a blade with a handle attached, such as arazor blade and its handle, the blade clasp 51 may be removed from theholder and the blade of the razor or other tool may be inserted directlyinto the spring clip 50 which is adapted to hold the same, and thehandle 66 of the tool is supported in a handle holding attachment, whichconsists of an arm 67, having one end provided with a longitudinalaperture and internal screw threads adapted to engage the outer end 68of the rotary holder shaft 29, which is extended outwardly from itsouter bearing, and is provided with external threads for this purpose.WVhen the arm 67 of the handle holder terminates at its outer end in ayoke 69, extending substantially at right angles to the main portion ofthe arm 67, and adapted to receive the handle 66 and to support thesame. This arm is preferably made of steel or brass, or other resilientmaterial, and the sides of the yoke 69 of the arm are preferablyconstructed to clamp the handle yieldingly in position. lVhen the arm 67is threaded into position, the end of the shaft 29 is brought intocontact with the end of the threaded aperture in the arm, and the armmay thus be held comparatively fixed with respect to the shaft, and whenin this position, the yoke of the arm is substantially in alinement withthe spring clip 50 of the shaft.

Instead of the clasp and clamping plates above described for holding theblade in position, a simple spring clasp 70, such as is shown in Fig. 8,may be used. In this case the clasp is in the form of a spring clip andis made of brass or any other suitable material, and is adapted to beheld by the spring clip 50 rigid with the holder shaft 29 of thesharpener. This clasp is provided upon one side with apertures adaptedto register with the apertures through the blade and upon its other sidewith lugs 71 projecting inwardly and adapted to extend through theapertures in the blade and into the apertures in the opposite side ofthe clasp, thus holding the blade yieldingly and removably in position.

For rotating the sharpening disk instead of using a friction roller 37engaging a corresponding annular friction disk 45, as heretoforedescribed, a pinion 75 'such as is shown in Figs. 9 and 10, having pins76 projecting radially therefrom for teeth, may be used, and in thiscase, a sharpening disk 77 having spaced apertures 78 arrangedin acircle concentric therewith to engage with the pins 76 of the pinion 75,is used.

A further modification shown in Figs. 11 and 12, of the means forrotating the sharpenin disk, consists in substituting for the frictionroller 37, a pressed, cut, or cast pinion 7 9, and in this case, theface of the sharpening disk is provided with a corresponding annulargear 80 with which the pinion 79 engages and through which the disk isrevolved.

Instead of using a perforated band or strap, engaging apulley providedwith pro-- jecting pins as heretofore described, for actuating thesharpener, a pulley having a smooth flanged face 86, may be used, aroundwhich is wound, for a single turn, an ordinary twisted or braided cord87, or other suitable band, one end of which is provided as heretofore,with a ring adapted to be attachcd to a fixed support.

In the operation of this device, one end of the perforated strap or band19 is secured in a fixed position by placing its ring 22 over a hook orother suitable support. The operator then grasps the other end of thestrap in one hand and the handle of the machine in his other hand andreciprocates the handle longitudinally of the strap, whereupon analternating rotary movement is imparted to the pulley 15, from thepulley through the spindle 5 to the rotary sharpening disk 8, and fromthe sharpening disk through the annular friction disk 45 and frictionroller 37 to the shaft 29. The rotation of the shaft 29 swings the clasp51, carrying the blade 52 toward the face of the annular thickness 12 ofrazor sharpening material on the rotating sharpening disk 8 and in thedirection of movement of the disk bringing one edge 60 ofthe blade intoengagement with the sharpening material, and at a suitable angle withthe face of the material, the edge of the blade being substantiallyparallel to the axis of the shaft 29, which is arranged diametrically ofthe sharpening disk, and therefore, the action between the surface ofthe sharpening material and the edge of the blade is in a directionoblique to and away from the edge of the blade which is the mostfavorable direction for this action, as

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is well known, as it avoids forming a wire edge upon the blade and givesthe keen smooth edge desired. After the edge of the blade has been thusbrought into contact with the sharpening material, the holder shaft 29is held against rotation by the blade, and the roller 37 driving theshaft, is permitted to rotate with respect to the shaft between thefriction washers 88 and 39, the friction between the washers and theroller being so adjusted by the nut 43 that the shaft is thus heldstationary on the applica tion of such pressure between the surface ofthe sharpening material and the edge of the blade as is desirable forsharpening purposes.

Upon the reversal of the rotation of the sharpening disk 8 by thereversed movement of the handle 4 in the hand of the operator, it isevident that the blade will be rotated away from its position of contactwith the sharpening material upon one side of the shaft 29, and will bebrought down into con tact with the sharpening material upon the otherside of the shaft, and the edge of the blade will be again sharpened,but upon the opposite side from that affected by the action firstdescribed. When it is desired to sharpen the other edge, 61, of theblade, it is simply necessary for the operator to grasp the clampingplates holding the blade and rotate them upon their journals throughhalf a turn, and then proceed as before.

Although only a single embodiment of this invention and a fewmodifications thereof have been shown herein, it is obvious that manychanges might be made in the construction set forth without departingfrom the spirit of this invention, or the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim and desire to protectby Letters Patent of the United States:

1. In a sharpening machine, the combination with rotary sharpeningmeans, of means for holding a blade, means to give said sharpening meansan alternating rotary motion, and yielding means continuously rotated bythe continuous rotation of said sharpening means to give an intermittentlimited rotary alternating movement to said blade holding means by thealternating ro tation of said sharpening means.

2. In a sharpening machine, the combina tion with a rotary sharpeningdisk, of a blade holder, means to give said disk an alternating rotarymotion, and a friction roller yieldingly contacting with said disk andcontinuously rotated by the continuous rotation of said disk to give anintermittent limited rotary alternating movement to said blade holder bythe alternating rotation of said sharpening means.

8. In a sharpening machine, the combination with rotary sharpeningmeans, of means for holding a blade, means to give said sharpening meansan alternating rotary motion, and a friction roller contacting with saidrotary sharpening means and continu ously rotated by the continuousrotation of said sharpening means for giving an intermittent limitedalternating rotary movement to said blade holding means by thealternating rotary movement of said sharpening means.

4. In a sharpening machine, the combination with a rotary sharpeningdisk, of a blade holder, means to give said disk a rotary motion, and afriction roller yieldingly held in contact with said disk andcontinuously rotated by the continuous rotation of said disk for givinga limited rotary movement to said blade holder by the continuousrotation of said disk.

5. In a sharpening machine, the combination with rotary sharpeningmeans, of means to rotate said sharpening means, a rotary shaft, a bladeholder upon said shaft and roller rotatably mounted by the shaft andcontacting with said rotary sharpening means to give the shaft a limitedrotary movement upon the continuous rotation of said roller.

6. In a sharpening machine, the combination with rotary sharpeningmeans, of means to rotate said sharpening means, a rotary shaft, a bladeholder upon said shaft, a friction roller rotatably mounted upon theshaft between the shaft and said rotary sharpening means, and means togive the shaft a limited rotary movement in either direction by acontinuous rotation of said roller in a corresponding direction.

7. In a sharpening machine, the combination with rotary sharpeningmeans, of means to rotate said sharpening means, a rotary shaft, a bladeholder upon said shaft, a member mounted upon the shaft and rotatablewith respect thereto, and engaging said sharpening means, and means onsaid shaft adjacent said member to retard the rotation of said memberwith respect to said shaft.

8. In a sharpening machine, the combination with rotary sharpeningmeans, of means to rotate said sharpening means, a rotary shaft, a bladeholder upon said shaft, a member mounted upon the shaft and rotatablewith respect thereto and rotated by the rotation of said sharpeningmeans, and adjustable means on said shaft adjacent said member to retardthe rotation of said member with respect to said shaft.

9. In a sharpening machine, the combination with rotary sharpeningmeans, of means to rotate said sharpening means, a rotary shaft, a bladeholder fixed upon said shaft, a member mounted upon the shaft and.rotatable with respect thereto and rotated by the rotation of saidsharpening means, and adjustable means on said shaft adjacent saidmember to retard the rotation of said member with respect to said shaft,said last mentioned means comprising a washer on said shaft in contactwith said member, and a nut threaded on said shaft to clamp said washeragainst said member.

10. In a sharpening machine, the combination with rotary sharpeningmeans, of means to rotate said sharpening means, a rotary shaft, a bladeholder fixed upon said shaft, friction roller mounted upon the shaft androtatable with respect thereto, and rotated by the rotation of saidsharpening means, and means on said shaft and engaging said roller toretard the rotation of said roller with respect to said shaft,comprising a collar rigid with said shaft upon one side of said roller,a washer longitudinally movable on said shaft but held against rotationwith respect thereto upon the other side of said roller, and a nutthreaded on said shaft outside of said washer.

11. In a sharpening machine, the combination with rotary sharpeningmeans, of a blade holder, and means yieldingly held in contact with saidrotary sharpening means to rotate said blade holder.

12. In a sharpening machine, the combination with rotary sharpeningmeans, of means comprising a toothed pulley and a perforated ribbonengaging therewith to rotate said sharpening means.

18. In a sharpening machine, the combination with rotary sharpeningmeans, of a yielding clasp, and means reversibly held by said clasp forclamping a two-edged blade in position.

14. In a sharpening machine, the combination with a spring clip, of aclasp removably supported by said clip, and means carried by said claspfor reversibly holding a two-edged blade.

15. In a sharpening machine, the combination with rotary sharpeningmeans, of a blade clasp comprising a yoke having yielding bifurcatedarms, each arm being provided with an oblong aperture between the twohalves of the arm, and means having transversely oval trunnions adaptedto engage in said apertures and to hold a blade.

16. In a sharpening machine, the combination with rotary sharpeningmeans, of a blade clasp comprising a yoke having yielding bifurcatedarms, each arm being provided with an oblong aperture between the twohalves of the arm, and a pair of damp ing plates having transverselyoval trunnions adapted to engage in said apertures and to hold a blade.

17. In a sharpening machine, the combination with a yoke having twoarms, of a spindle journaled transversely in said arms, a rotary disksharpener fixed on one end of said spindle and outside of said yoke, apair of oppositely disposed brackets carried by said yoke, a rotaryshaft journaled 'in said brackets, and a blade holder carried by saidshaft.

18. In a sharpening machine, the combination with a yoke, of a handlerigid therewith, a spindle journaled in said yoke, means to rotate saidspindle, a rotary disk sharpener fixed on one end of said spindle,resilient yielding brackets carried by said yoke, a rotary shaftjournaled in said brackets, and means on said shaft for holding a blade.

19. In a sharpening machine, the combination with a yoke, of a handlerigid therewith, a spindle journaled in said yoke, means to rotate saidspindle, a rotary disk sharpener fixed on one end of said spindle,brackets carried by said yoke, a rotary shaft journaled in saidbrackets, means on said shaft for holding a blade, and a member mountedon said shaft and rotatable with respect thereto and actuated by therotation of said disk for rotating said shaft.

20. In a sharpening machine, the combination with a yoke, of a handlerigid therewith, a spindle journaled in said yoke, means to rotate saidspindle, a rotary disk sharpener fixed on one end of said spindle,brackets carried by said yoke, a rotary shaft j ournaled in saidbracket-s, a blade holder on said shaft, and a member mounted on saidshaft and rotatable with respect thereto and actuated by the rotation ofsaid disk for rotating said shaft, and adjustable means on said shaftand adjacent said member for retarding the rotation of said member withrespect to said shaft.

21. In a sharpening machine, the combination with a yoke having twoarms, of a spindle journaled transversely in said arms, a rotary disksharpener fixed on one end of said spindle and outside of said yoke, apair of oppositely disposed yielding brackets carried by said yoke, arotary shaft journaled in said brackets, and a blade holder carried bysaid shaft.

22. In a sharpening machine, the combination with rotary sharpeningmeans, of a rotary shaft, a blade holder carried by said shaft, a membermounted upon said shaft and rotatable with respect thereto, and meansupon said shaft and adjacent said member to retard the rotation of saidmemher with respect to said shaft.

23. In a sharpening machine, the combi nation with rotary sharpeningmeans, of means comprising a toothed pulley, a perforated band engagingsaid pulley, and oppositely arranged idlers for holding said band inengagement with said pulley for rotating said pulley.

24. In a sharpening machine, the combination with rotary sharpeningmeans, of a rotary shaft, spaced yielding bearings for said shaft, ablade-holder carried by said shaft, and a roller mounted upon said shaftbrackets carried by said support, a shaft 10 and held yieldingly incontact with said journaled in said brackets, and a blade, rotarysharpening means to rotate said holder carried by said shaft.

shaft. In Witness whereof I have hereunto set 25. In a sharpening means,the combimy hand this 23rd day of July 1909.

nation with a support, of a spindle jour- PETER E. BIRD.

naled in said support, a rotary sharpener Witnesses: I

fixed to said spindle and adjacent one side A. IRWIN GARDNER,

of said support, a pair of resilient bifurcated ALEXANDER PARK.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G.

It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 993,016, granted May23, 1911, upon the application of Peter E. Bird, of Jenltintown,Pennsylvania, for an improvement in Razor-Sharpening Machines, errorsappear in the printed specification requiring correction as followsz'Page 2, line 124, the word lightly should read slightly, page 4, line89, the word by should read upon, and same page, line J2, the Word uponshould read by; and that the said Letters Patent should be rend Withthese corrections therein that the same may conform to the record of thecase in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 27th day of June, A. D., 1911.

C. (J. BILLINGS,

Acting Cbwmu'sm'onew 0]" Patents.

[SEAL]

